Wall panel securing means



July 31, 1951 J. H. VAN UUM ETAL 2,562,754

' WALL PANEL SECURING MEANS Filed July 28, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l INEN TORS do/7w l/AW UUM H [2Q 5492mm EMMA/6 MGM/95M: 14 [0H2 July 31, 1951 J. H. VAN UUM ETAL} WALL PANEL SECURING MEANS Filed July 28, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 31, 1951 Filed July 28, 1945 J. H. VAN UUM ETAL WALL PANEL SECURING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS. dob 1v H Va/v M/M ELQA/ARDEMM/AZG nwCLflEEA/Cf/K Lama pearance and provides a Waterproof seal.

Patented July 31, 1951 WALL PANEL SECURING MEANS John H. Van Uum, Lakewood, Bernard Emming,

Fairview Village, and Clarence W. Lohr, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to The Cuyahoga Spring Company, a corporation of Ohio Application July 28, 1945, Serial No. 607,620

2 Claims. (Cl. 24-81) This invention has for its objects the provision of simple, eflicient easily manufactured fastening device and the provision of special flange construction formed on metal wall panels, and

by which the panels may be securely held in position and yet may be readily removed'by the use of a simple tool. v

In the mounting of finished and decorative panels formed of metal and carry vitreous enamel or other like finish suitable for bathrooms, kitchens, store front exteriors, and the like, it has long been the practice to apply the desired finish, for example, an imitation of tile or terra cotta, or the like to the exterior or outer side of a flanged metal rectangular member. Heretofore, however, is has afforded a considerable problem to secure such panel members to the Wall surface or carrying elements thereon without defacing the finish. It is also frequently necessary to remove one or more panels, and heretofore the fastening means I used has rendered this dimcult and any method of removal frequently results in defacing or destroying the panel.

By the use of our invention, any panel or any number of panels may be easily removed and replaced or may be reused on another wall.

In the arranging of such panels, it is the practice to space them closely, fill the space between them with a platsic substance corresponding to cement or mortar, which gives the desired ap- If such spacing is made wide enough to use fastening means, such as screws, between the panels and to allow access thereto, the filling material is too wide and non-economical and an excessive amount is required. 7

Further objects of the present invention include the provision of spring clip fastening devices which permit the panel faces to be closely positioned with only a narrow space between them,

while thefastening devices are concealed.

In the present application, the panels are provided with flanges having portions turned parallel and spaced from the main portion of the panel,

and provided with openings to receive looped portions of holding devices, which, in turn, are mounted and similarly held in openings in metal channel members secured to the wall and spaced approximately the width of the panels and after the manner of furring strips. y

In the present construction, the mountingof the panels-in position and removal-therefrom is accomplished with equal facility to that described in our copending application. Certain advantages are attained in addition to the objects above setforth which will become more apparent in the following description which refers to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a face view of a wall in the nature of store front to which panels are applied in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged face view. partly in section, showing panels and the securing means.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of a panel showing a portion of adjacent panels, one of which is being detached for removal. 7

- Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation of one of the securing clips.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the same.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are fragmentary sections of the metal channel showing the clips in position therein, and showing a portion of the panel flange in section at the beginning of the engagement of the panel flange with the securing loop in Fig. 6, and showing the locking engagement in Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through one of the furring strip channels taken on a plane passing through the securing openings therein and in the panel flanges. I

Figs. 10 and 11 are rear and face views, respectively of the panel. 7

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 9, illustrating the removal of a panel.

Figs. 13 to 17 correspond to Figs. 3 to 8, inclusive, showing a modified shape and proportion of the securing clip.

Among the many uses in which our invention may be advantageously applied for the securing of wall panels are both interior and exterior walls, such as tile bathrooms, kitchens and the like, store front and like exterior walls.

In Fig. l, the tile or facing block efiectaround large display windows, I and 2, of a store front are shown as rectangular, preferably square panels 5. A converging entrance of display windows 2-2 lead toward a door indicated at 3, and below the glass 2 are' similar panels indicated at 6. These may be of the same form, but wider or narrower panels may be used if dimension limitations require them. A suitable finish or corner closure may be provided, carrying out the block effect as indicated at 4 at the left of Figs. 1 d 2.

The wall proper may be of any common construction. In Fig. 2 brick 8 are shown to which may be secured anchoring members, such as furring strips l0, and on which may be mounted vertical channel members [5 formed of metal and having laterally extending flanges I6 provided with holes for screws or like securing members, indicated at 30.

Whether furring strips III or other anchoring means are used, for simplicity we have designated the wall to be covered as W, as, for example, in Fig. 3 the securing screws 30 are shown as entering anyfsnitablelmaterial of the material of the wall itself.

The channel I is shown as presenting a raised flat portion I1 provided with pairs of spaced openings or holes |B for receiving the anchoring loops of the spring clip securing devices designated, generally, 20.

The panels 5 are provided with inturned. flanges on all sides, but on two opposite sides the flanges indicated at H are bent inwardly, parallel with the surface of the panel as shown at I3. These are provided with openings I2 adapted to register with the openings I8 injghe channel strips I5.

, In previous patentsgranted to John H Van Uum, one of the inventorshereof, are shown, described and claimed a number of loop spring clip fastening devices of a character suitable for remgvably securing two members, as it is here desiredto secure the inturned flanges to the channels |5. However, because of certain requirements in connection with the mounting and removal of panels, a special wire 100p fastener is provided, and whichmay be made and used as herein described,

One of the requirements-is that the fasteners may be readily positioned in the stationary channel, projecting outwardly therefrom to enter the openings in the flanges. l3 as the panels are pressed int?) position. V Another requirement is that the flanges I3 be spaced from the channels to permit the entrance of the-hooked end of a flat tool by which the side of the panel may be lifted and moved outwardly, disengaging it from the holding shoulders formed on the securing clips.

In addition we have found that the uniform spacing between the panel flanges and the channel surface may be assured by means of extensions on the securing fasteners which serve to aidgin locking them in the channel. and which also hold them firmly in position while the openings in the channelfianges'aresprung over the securing loops of these elements.

, To attain the results and provide the "desirable characteristics, the new form of. snap fastener clip, illustrated in the drawings, is preferred. Its

formation and function will now be described.

, Referring particularly to Figs. 4 to 8, a suitable lengthof spring wire is bent approximately midway of its ends,xas shown at 22, and from this bend two diverging straight portions, in-

One por- At: or near the zone of crossing of themembers 24 the. reach 21 .is bent'outwardly at 28, and then abruptly at an angle as at 29-. The other end of the wirei's .formed' into a similar loop; 4| of arms 25 and 21 and bend 26. and terminates in the extension 28 and angle bend 29, the latter preferably extending in a direction opposite to that of the other .end member 29, as shown at Fig. 5.

The portions 28 and 29 preferably lie in the same plane in order to rest against the surface or-a flat. member which is provided with an opening through which the loops 4| pass and in which they may retain gripping engagement. Thus, the channel member I1 provided with the openings I8 may have the fastening device thrust into position, bringing the end members 28 and 29 against the face of the member l1. Th size of the openings I8 is such that the members 25 and 21 of the loops 4| are pressed toward each other forcing the sloping portions 24 into gripping engagement with the inner side of the plate or channel and drawing the members 28 and 29 against its outer face. The loop 2| formed of the members 23 and 22 now stands at right angles to the face. of the channel members I1 and is positioned to enter a registering opening I2 in th inturned flange I3 formed on the panel member 5.

In Fig. 6 the opening I2 is shown as being passed over this outwardly projecting loop 2|, and in Fig. '1 is shown the final locking position of the flange I3, pressed against the members 28 and 29 and held by the slopes of the portions 24.

Fig. 8 shows these parts in the same position viewing the loops at right angles to the plane of Fig. 7.

It will be noted that the compressing of the loop 2| moving its members 23-23 together does not have the efiect of loosening the gripping action on the separate members 25 and 21, of the loops 4|, engaging the opening in the opposite plate member or furring strip. The gripping action on the two loops 4| is stronger than the action on the single loop 2| engaging the member I3. The result is that when suflicient force is applied to the panel to move the member I3 outwardly, the gripping fasteners are retained in the member |1 ready to enter the panel opening as it is replaced. As the hol I2 passes over its loop 2| the cross members 24 are forced more tightly into engagement with the inner edge of the hole I8. The spreading spring action between the members 25 and 21 of the two loops 4| provides a very strong gripping effect in the opening I8, and yet the fastener may be removed from the opening I8 by applying suflicient force to pull the two loops 4| out of the hole I8.

A simple tool for removing the panels is illustrated in Fig. 3 and Fig. 12 at 50. It is shown as comprising a flat blade having an abruptly turned edge at the inner end, as shown at 5|. The latter is so formed as to permit it to pass between two panels and hook under one of them. Then, by drawing outwardly on the panel or by tipping the tool, as shown in Fig. 12, the panel engaging member 51 may be slid outwardly off from the retaining loops of the fasteners.

It will be noted that the cross members 24 are in effect sloping shoulders which engage the outer edges of the holes through the members I3 and H at approximately the same abrupt angles. The engagement with the member I1, however, is effected by the spring action of the two separate bends 26 between the arms 21 and 25 of the loops 4|, whereas the spring tension forcing the cross members into engagement with the outer edge of the hole I2 in the member I3 is directly under the influence of the bend 22 of a single portion of the wire. I

Furthermore, the loops 4| are preferably shorter and the spreading action causing the gripping engagement iscorrespondingly more forcible. The result is that the removal of' the panels will unformlyleave the fastener engag- 'ing the fixed member I1 ready to engage the same or similar opening for replacement.

A somewhat modified form of the loop-fastener 40 is illustrated in Figs. 13 to 17 by which the members to be secured may be more readily pressed into engaging position and the removal may be accomplished by the application of much less force.

The fastener clip may be made of lighter Wire, that is, thinner gauge. The furring channels are preferably somewhat deeper to provide} room for the elongated loops extending into thechannel.

Referring specifically to this form, a somewhat longer smaller diameter Wire is bent in the, middle at 42 to form a more gently tapered loop terminating in the cross portions 44, presenting more gradual sloping shoulders engaging the openings in the flanges l3. From each portion 44, the wire extends in a straight gradual sloping portion 45 and is bent to present a round entering nose portion 46 leaving a straight arm of the loop at 41, adapted to extend through the opening in the retainin member, and is' then bent to lie along the surface of the retaining member as at 48, and its end is extended at an abrupt angle indicated at 49 corresponding to the portions 29 of Fig. 5.

In each of the forms of Figs. 4 to 8 and 14 to 17, the loop of the wire within the retaining member tends to spread and cause its own gripping engagement independently of the spring action of the correspnoding loop withinthe removable member. Thus, when the opening [2 of the removable member, that is, the flange of the panel, passes over the outwardly projecting retainin loop, the gripping action in the retaining member is maintained and the relative movement of the members 43 does not cause disengagement. This action is illustrated in Fig. 15, corresponding to that of Fig. 6 in which the previous position of the outwardly projecting loop is indicated in broken lines,

The removal of a panel is effected as before described, it being only necessary to remove a. portion of the putty or like filler, designated F, Figs. 1, 2 and 13.

A form of such retaining clip may be efiective for certain purposes where only one loop engages the retaining member, and one of the ins of the receiving and retaining loop is :provid .with an offset engaging the outer surface of thegmemher, such as l1. It is expected to present such a construction in a copending application.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A single strip spring fastener comprising opposing loops adapted to pass through registering openings in thin stiff material, the loops" being connected by diagonal arms urged into engagement with the sides of the openings by spring action of the loops, and a lateral extension adapted to lie along the face .of one of two members to be secured together by the fastener. 2. A fastening device adapted to engage registering openings in rigid plate-like members, and comprising a single strip of spring material having a pair of substantially parallel loops adapted to pass through and spring into an engagement with an opening in one member, and having crossed connecting arm portions forming shoulders, and the arm portions being connected by a single loop adapted to pass through the other opening, said cross arm shoulders being urged into engagement by spring action of the loops with the edges of the openings.

JOHN H. VAN UUM.

BERNARD EMMING.

CLARENCE W. LOI-IR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

